New ‘Cowboy Corridor’ itinerary showcases Nevada section of I-80

CARSON CITY — Check out the ghost town where Mark Twain once prospected, get a primer in pyrotechnics in Battle Mountain, and connect with Western culture in Elko: it’s all in the new Cowboy Corridor itinerary published by the Nevada Division of Tourism (TravelNevada).

The itinerary, which illustrates attractions along the Interstate 80 corridor, coincides with the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Jan. 29 to Feb. 3 in Elko, but can be undertaken at other times of the year. See it online at TravelNevada.com (click the link under “Featured itineraries”).

“Nevada’s cowboy culture can be found in the ranches and historical sites in northern Nevada, and this itinerary helps visitors navigate this important region of our state,” David Peterson, interim director of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, said.

Among the sites to explore:

Unionville ghost town, where Mark Twain once prospected, was a booming mining community in the 1860s, and once was the seat of Humboldt County. Today, it’s home to about 20 people and one business, the Old Pioneer Garden B&B Guest Ranch, a remnant of Nevada’s boom-and-bust mining cycle.

Roller Coaster Fireworks Outlet in Battle Mountain, the domain of brothers Earl and Spider Cassorla. Experts in the field, the Cassorlas can advise on fireworks and where they can be discharged. Also check out the shop’s attention-grabbing amateur taxidermy.

Elko, the center of the state’s cattle industry, is the place to connect with Nevada’s cowboy culture. Start with the newly opened Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum, then see saddles made by hand at J.M. Capriola Co., a longstanding Western wear shop a few doors down. Elko’s also home to the Western Folklife Center, home of the organization that oversees the Cowboy Poetry Gathering; its doors are open year-round.

The Nevada Division of Tourism (TravelNevada) is part of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. It is responsible for promoting and marketing Nevada as a travel destination to domestic and international travelers. Operating within a performance-based budget structure, TravelNevada is funded solely by a percentage of lodging tax paid by overnight guests throughout the state. For more, visit www.TravelNevada.biz.